Mark Your Calendar: Mega Street Food Coming to Your Belly REAL SOON

A small sample of the spread at SF Street Food 2012. Photo by PixelBoo Studio via Facebook.

One of San Francisco’s most vibrant, flavorful, and fun food events is fast approaching: La Cocina’s fifth annual ~SAN FRANCISCO STREET FOOD FESTIVAL~ is coming on Saturday August 17th, and once again this year there will be a Night Market on Friday August 16th.

The Night Market, which will be held at the Alemany Farmers’ Market from 4pm-9pm, includes more than 25 vendors hawking a variety of street food. You’ll also find drinks, live music, and, new this year, street games from around the world, including cornhole, Skee-Ball, and Berlin-style Ping-Pong. The event is a benefit for La Cocina’s incubator program, and tickets are $35, but they’ve got an early bird special running until July 20th that includes drink tickets and $50 to spend at either the Night Market or the Festival for $75. There will be a free shuttle leaving Mission Pie (2901 Mission St. at 25th St.), or you can purchase a parking pass. Pro tip: Don’t forget your jacket, scarf, and hat; it can get damn chilly out there. 100 Alemany Blvd. at Peralta.

Once you’ve gotten a taste at the Night Market, you really won’t want to miss the Saturday main event. The Street Food Festival will take over several blocks in the Mission, on Folsom from 20th Street to 26th Street and 21st Street to 25th Street between Shotwell and Treat, from 11am-7pm. The event includes tons of great food from La Cocina incubator alumni, plus street food purveyors from all over. Each stand will offer a small plate for $3, a large plate for $8, and a beverage, and you’ll also find bar areas with beer, wine, and cocktails. The event is not only amazing but also free to the public, all you have to pay for is the food. And they’ve got a ton of great deals going on, such as “passports” that you can share with your group; check them out here, and don’t forget to use that promo code (5YEARS) for 5 percent off all passports. They’re a great deal, so get ‘em while they’re hot! Pro tip: Go with at least a few non-germphobic friends so you can share bites together and try more. Folsom between 20th and 26th Sts.

Want more La Cocina in your life? Yeah, who doesn’t. Check out the Food and Entrepreneurship Conference on Sunday August 18th from 9am-6:30pm. The conference is all about female entrepreneurs in the food industry, and there are a variety of ticket options and packages available; check here for additional details. SOMArts, 934 Brannan St. at 8th St.